An autism diagnosis for 18-month-old Roman set the stage for a miracle. Through hard work and prayer, Roman’s mother Elizabeth never gave up on her son and today he is a gifted 11-year old.
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HEAD TO AMERICA'S BOOM
TOWN.
THIS IS NOT A BOOM THAT
IS GOING TO FIZZLE.
PEEKIN PEOPLE ARE
STRIKING IT RICH IN NORTH
DAKOTA.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
GET IN ON THE CUSP OF
SOMETHING.
BUT NOT EVERYONE IS HAPPY
ABOUT IT.
THESE GUYS CAN TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF YOU.
PLUS, A MUSICAL PRODIGY.
IT IS A GOD-GIVEN
TALENT.
FROM A BOY ONCE CALLED
AUTISTIC.
I WAS GOING TO GIVE UP.
THE AMAZING TURNAROUND.
ONLY GOD CAN HEAL LIKE
THAT.
ON TODAY'S "700 CLUB."
Gordon: WELCOME TO "THE
700 CLUB."
THE SOUTH IS FINALLY THAWING
OUT FROM THAT HISTORIC
WINTER STORM.
Wendy: HERE IN
VIRGINIA, "OPERATION
BLESSING" IS HELPING THE
CITIES IN THE NORTH DIG OUT
BY THOSE WHO WERE TRAPPED BY
THE SNOW.
DALE HURD HAS THE STORY.
Reporter: MILD RECORD
MAKES A WELCOME RETURN TO
THE SOUTH, HELPING WITH
RECOVERY EFFORTS FOR ONE OF
THE WORST WINTER STORMS TO
HIT THE AREA IN MANY YEARS.
IT WAS NOT ONLY A DISASTER
FOR STATE AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, BUT FOR
BUSINESSES LARGE AND SMALL,
AS COSTUMERS AND WORKERS
WERE FORCED TO STAY HOME.
IN THE ATLANTA AREA,
HUNDREDS OF DRIVERS HAVE
BEEN RECONNECTED WITH THEIR
ABANDONED CARS.
SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED, BUT
OTHERS WERE TOLD TO GO TO
WORK.
I'M THE GOVERNOR.
THE BUCK STOPS WITH ME.
I ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR IT.
Reporter: THIS KIND OF
THING HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.
WHEN ALL OF HOUSTON GOT ON
THE ROADS TO EVACUATE RIGHT
BEFORE HURRICANE RITA IN
2005.
THE GRIDLOCK WAS DEADLY.
ONE EXPERT SAYS THE LESSON
IS THAT CITIES HAVE TO HAVE
A PLAN.
ATLANTA DID NOT
UNDERSTAND THAT SNOW IS THE
ENEMY UNLESS YOU'RE ON A SKI
SLOPE.
WHATEVER WAS DONE WAS
DONE IN RESPONSE TO THE
CRISIS, NOT BECAUSE THERE
WAS A PLAN.
Reporter:
"OPERATION BLESSING" AND THE
CITY OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA,
HAD A PLAN, CALLED
"OPERATION SNOW BUDDY," IN
WHICH TEAMS OF WORKERS
HELPED DIG OUT THOSE MOST IN
NEED.
I WAS WATCHING TV, AND
THEY WERE REPORTING THE
WEATHER.
AND THEY MENTIONED YOUR
NAME, AND SO I CALLED, AND
HERE YOU ARE.
THANK YOU.
Reporter:
"OPERATION BLESSING" ALSO
PROVIDED 20 TONS OF ROCK
SALT TO HELP CLEAR
SIDEWALKS.
DALE HURD, CBN NEWS.
Gordon: WHICH DISASTER
STRIKES, WE WANT TO STRIKE
BACK WITH LOVE AND
DISASTER.
IF YOU WANT TO GIVE TO THE
"OPERATION BLESSING"
DISASTER RELIEF FUND, ALL
YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL US.
1-800-759-0700.
WELL, IN OTHER NEWS,
CHRISTIANS ARE TRYING TO
BRING PEACE TO THE CRISIS IN
UKRAINE.
JOHN JESSUP HAS THAT STORY
FROM OUR NEWS BUREAU IN
WASHINGTON.
JOHN?
Reporter: GORDON, WHILE
UKRAINE HAS BEEN ON THE
VIRGE OF A POSSIBLE CIVIL
WAR IN RECENT WEEKS,
CHRISTIANS THERE ARE PRAYING
AROUND THE CLOCK FOR A
PEACEFUL RESOLUTION, AND
THEY'RE ALSO SPREADING THE
GOSPEL IN THE MIDST OF
CHAOS.
GEORGE THOMAS HAS THAT STORY
FROM KIEV.
George: WEARING VESTS
THAT SAY "PRAY FOR UKRAINE,"
OLI AND HIS FRIEND HAVE
WALKED THESE STREETS AROUND
INDEPENDENT SQUARE, THE
EPICENTER OF THE POLITICAL
CRISIS, NUMEROUS TIMES.
THERE IS A MIXTURE OF
HOPE AND FEAR.
PEOPLE AREN'T SURE ABOUT THE
FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY.
George: CBN NEWS WENT
ALONG AS THEY DELIVERED HOT
TEA TO NUMEROUS AREAS.
THEY MEET WITH PRO AND
GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATORS.
INCLUDING THE POLICE.
Reporter: THE CHURCH
HAS TO PLAY A PART.
WE HAVE TO BE SALT AND
LIGHT.
George: WE ARE IN
DOWNTOWN KIEV, HUNDREDS OF
UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS READY, AT
GUARD, SUITED UP AND READY
TO DO BATTLE.
ON THIS SIDE, YOU HAVE
DOZENS OF BURNED OUT BUSES,
HUNDREDS OF TIRES, AND
BARRICADES THAT HAVE BEEN
SET UP FOR THE OPPOSITION
FORCES.
TODAY, MORE THAN TWO MONTHS
AFTER UKRAINE STARTED THIS
CRISIS, THE NATION REMAINS
AT A STANDSTILL, AS THE
POLITICAL FOLKS TRY TO COME
UP WITH SOME KIND OF A
RESOLUTION, PASTOR OLI HAS
ANOTHER SOLUTION.
IT IS A SPIRITUAL ONE AND IT
IS CENTERED AROUND PRAYER.
OLI IS A YOUTH PASTOR AT ONE
OF THE LARGE EVANGELICAL
CHURCHES.
HE ERECTED THIS CHURCH TENT
IN THE HEART OF THE PROTESTS
MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AGO,
WHEN HIS COUNTRYMEN TOOK TO
THE STREETS DEMANDING
CHANGES IN THE GOVERNMENT.
OUR MAIN MESSAGE IS THAT
GOD IS THE ONLY ANSWER.
NOT POLITICS, NO VIOLENCE.
WE HAVE TO RELY ON HIM TO
SEE US THROUGH THIS CRISIS.
George: TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF ANTI-GOVERNMENT
PROTESTORS HAVE FLOODED THE
CITY.
ZENI SAYS THE POLITICAL
UNCERTAINTY HAS LEFT MANY
DISILLUSIONED.
SHE SPENDS HER TIME ON THE
STREETS HANDING OUT COPIES
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT AND
GOSPEL OF JOHN.
IT IS -23° AND COLD OUT
HERE, BUT THE INCONVENIENCE
IS A SMALL PRICE TO PAY TO
SHOW THE PEOPLE THE GOSPEL.
George: THERE IS AN
ARMY OF CHRISTIAN VOLUNTEERS
WORKING 24 HOURS A DAY,
PRAYING AND HANDING OUT FREE
FOOD.
MARIA IS A MOTHER OF TWO
FROM KIEV.
PROTESTORS HAVE BEEN ON
THE STREETS IN FREEZING
CONDITIONS FOR MONTHS.
SO WHEN THEY COME FOR A CUP
OF TEA, I ENCOURAGE THEM,
SAYING, GOD BLESS YOU.
WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU AND
YOUR COUNTRY.
DON'T GIVE UP.
George: THE PASTOR SAYS
MANY HAVE STOPPED BY THE
TENT AND MANY HAVE GIVEN
THEIR LIVES TO JESUS
CHRIST.
I'M PRAYING FOR GOD TO
BRING RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE TO
OUR GOVERNMENT.
George: I ASKED THE
PASTOR HOW LONG HE PLANS TO
STAY OUT ON THE STREETS OF
KIEV.
AND HE SAID, AS LONG AS IT
TAKES TO BRING PEACE TO OUR
COUNTRY.
GEORGE THOMAS, CBN NEWS,
KIEV, UKRAINE.
Reporter: CONCERN OVER
EXTREMISTS PLANNING ATTACKS
AT THE UPCOMING OLYMPICS HAS
THE GOVERNMENT ON ALERT.
THE U.S. OFFICIALS SAY THE
WORRY SHOULD NOT SO MUCH
SURROUND THE OLYMPIC SITES,
BUT THE CONCERN SHOULD BE ON
AREAS AROUND THE GAMES.
THE GREATER THREAT IS TO
SOFTER TARGETS IN THE
GREATER SOCHI AREA AND IN
THE OUTSKIRTS, BEYOND SOCHI,
WHERE THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL
POTENTIAL FOR A TERRORIST
ATTACK.
Reporter: ON THURSDAY,
RUSSIAN AUTHORS OBTAINED TWO
BROTHERS WITH TIES TO A
TERRORIST GROUP THREATENING
TO ATTACK THE GAMES.
THEY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
TWO BROTHERS WHO ATTACK A
TRAIN STATION IN VOLGOGRAD
LAST MONTH.
HERE AT HOME, PEOPLE ARE
GETTING READY FOR THE
BIGGEST SPORTING EVENT OF
THE YEAR, AND, OF COURSE,
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
SUPERBOWL.
NEW JERSEY IS LOOKING TO
WELCOME THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE,
BUT AUTHORITIES ARE LOOKING
AT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
THEY HELD A HEARING ON HUMAN
TRAFFICKING AND HEARD
TESTIMONY OF A SEX
TRAFFICKING SURVIVOR.
WITHIN HOURS OF RUNNING
AWAY, I WAS FORCED INTO
PROSTITUTION, ON THE STREETS
AND IN THE CASINO HOTELS AND
MOTELS OF ATLANTIC CITY, NEW
JERSEY.
36 HOURS LATER, I WAS
ARRESTED BY POLICE AND
TREATED LIKE A CRIMINAL.
THE ONLY STANDARD THAT
FITS THE CRIME OF HUMAN
TRAFFICKING IS ZERO
TOLERANCE.
AND IT MUST BE ENFORCED BY
ARRESTS OF THOSE ENGAGED IN
THIS MODERN TRADE.
Reporter: THE AVERAGE
AGE WHEN MOST PEOPLE ARE
FORCED INTO PROSTITUTION
HERE IN THE U.S. IS 13 TO 14
YEARS OLD.
CONGRESSMAN SMITH SAYS THE
GOVERNMENT MUST WORK HARDER
TO SEND SEX TRAFFICKING.
SCIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED A
SURPRISING NEW METHOD OF
TURNING ORDINARY CELLS INTO
STEM CELLS.
LORI JOHNSON HAS THAT
STORY.
Reporter: AMERICAN AND
JAPANESE RESEARCHERS FOUND
THAT BY TAKING ORDINARY
BLOOD CELLS FROM THE SPLEENS
OF MICE AND EXPOSING THEM TO
ACIDIC LIQUIDS FOR 30
MINUTES, AMAZINGLY, THOSE
CELLS WERE TURNED INTO STEM
CELLS.
THAT MEANS THEY WERE
REVERSED INTO AN UNDECIDED
STATE WHERE THEY COULD BE
REPROGRAMMED INTO ANY TYPE
OF HEALTHY CELL TO GROW AND
REPAIR PARTS OF THE BODY
THAT ARE DAMAGED.
WHEN I ENCOUNTERED THIS
NEWS, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.
AND THEN I AM GOING TO SHOW
THE RESULTS.
AND I FOUND THAT IT CAN BE
GOOD.
Reporter: RESEARCHERS
ARE STUDYING WHETHER THE
TECHNIQUE WORKS IN HUMAN
CELLS.
IF IT DOES, THERE COULD BE A
FAST, CHEAP, AND ETHICAL WAY
TO GROW TISSUE TO TREAT
ILLNESSES LIKE DIABETES,
PARKINSON'S DISEASE OR
HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE, WHICH
IS WHAT MICHAEL HINSHAW
HAS.
I COULDN'T EVEN STAND
STILL TALKING TO YOU.
YOU CAN SEE I'M SHAKING
NOW.
Reporter: THERE IS EVEN
HOPE IT COULD RESTORE A
SENSE OF TOUCH TO PEOPLE
WITH PARALYSIS.
IMAGINE NOT BEING ABLE TO
TOUCH YOUR CHILD.
IMAGINE NOT BEING ABLE TO
TOUCH YOUR SPOUSE.
HOW DEVASTATING THAT WOULD
BE.
Reporter: THIS NEW
METHOD OF HARVESTING STEM
CELLS IS GOOD NEWS FOR
PEOPLE WITH ETHICAL CONCERNS
ABOUT GETTING THEM FROM
HUMAN EMBRYOS.
BUT IT RAISES NEW CONCERNS
ABOUT OPENING A PATHWAY TO
CLONING PEOPLE.
SINCE STEM CELLS HAVE THE
ABILITY TO REGENERATE THE
BODY, THAT TECHNOLOGY COULD
BE USED IN MANY WAYS.
LORI JOHNSON, CBN NEWS.
Reporter: THE EUROPEAN
UNION IS WORKING ON A PLAN
TO LET POLICE STOP CARS BY
REMOTE CONTROL.
IT IS PART OF A MOVE FOR
MORE SURVEILLANCE AND
TRACKING MEASURES BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES.
THE PLAN CALLS FOR ALL
EUROPEAN CARS TO BE FITTED
WITH A SPECIAL DEVICE THAT
WOULD SHUT OFF THE GAS TO
THE ENGINE AND TURN OFF THE
IGNITION, SO POLICE WOULD BE
ABLE TO STOP CARS REMOTELY
FROM A REMOTE CONTROL RULE.
GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG GROUPS
ARE ALREADY SPEAKING OUT
AGAINST IT, AND ONE
CONSERVATIVE MEMBER OF THE
BRITISH PARLIAMENT WARNED
THAT SUCH MEASURES ARE
LEADING TO GOVERNMENT BY AN
UNACCOUNTABLE SECRETIVE
GROUP.
I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT BEING
OKAY WITH PEOPLE HERE IN THE
U.S.
Gordon: I USED TO THINK
IT WOULDN'T BE OKAY FOR THE
PEOPLE IN THE U.S. TO GIVE
THE GOVERNMENT ALL OF THEIR
TRACKING INFORMATION, ALL OF
THEIR MEDI DATA FROM PHONE
CALLS, BUT WE SEEM TO BE
WILLING TO DO THAT.
WE'RE COMING INTO AN AGE
WHERE IT IS A SURVEILLANCE
SOCIETY, WHEREVE WHERE
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US ARE
CONTINUALLY SURVEILLED BY
THESE PROGRAMS AND THE DATA
PROGRAMS, AND IF THE
GOVERNMENT EVER WANTS TO
LOOK AT US, THEY'LL KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT IS ON
YOUR iPOD PLAY LIST.
Wendy: DO YOU THINK
PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO GIVE
UP SOME OF THAT INFORMATION
IN HOPES THAT TERRORISM WILL
NOT COME TO OUR COUNTRY?
Gordon: WELL, THE
STUDIES JUST PROVED THAT ALL
OF THIS N.S.A. MEDI DATA
COLLECTION HASN'T LED TO A
SINGLE TERRORIST ATTACK.
AND YET WE'RE STILL SAYING
IT IS OKAY TO TAKE IT.
Wendy: I GOTCHA.
COMING UP, IT IS A MODERN
DAY GOLD RUSH AS A NEW
GENERATION OF PROSPECTORS
ARE FINDING A FORTUNE
BETWEEN THE PLAINS OF NORTH
DAKOTA.
THIS IS NOT A BOOM THAT
IS GOING TO FIZZLE IN THREE
OR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A
30-YEAR BOOM.
Wendy: SEE HOW THE OIL
BOOM HAS TRANSFORMED ONE
STATE.
THAT'S NEXT.
*
Gordon: WELL, YOU MAY
NOT THINK OF NORTH DAKOTA AS
THE LAND OF PROSPERITY.
FOR MANY YEARS IT WASN'T.
AND THEN CAME THE OIL BOOM.
DAVID BRODY SHOWS US WHAT
HAPPENED AND HOW IT HAS
TURNED THE STATE AROUND.
David: HISTORY BOOKS
TELL US ABOUT THE FAMOUS
CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH IN THE
1800s, WHEN PEOPLE HEADED
WEST TO STRIKE IT RICH.
WELL, WELCOME TO WESTERN
NORTH DAKOTA, WHERE AN OIL
RUSH IS ON FOR PEOPLE LIKE
CURTIS HANZEL.
THIS IS NOT A BOOM THAT
IS GOING TO FIZZLE IN THREE
OR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG
TIME, 30-YEAR BOOM.
David: THIS BIG BOOM
COVERS MORE THAN 200,000
SQUARE MILES IN THE BOCCAN
OIL FIELDS.
THIS ISN'T A BEVERLY
HILLBILLY STRIKE BECAUSE THE
OIL IS IN UNDERGROUND ROCK.
NEW DRILLING TECHNOLOGY,
CALLED FRACKING, MEANS THAT
THE ROUGHLY
170 BILLION BARRELS OF CRUDE
OIL CAN NOW BE UNEARTHED.
OIL PRODUCTION HAS ZOOMED UP
600% IN THE LAST SEVEN
YEARS, PUTTING NORTH DAKOTA
AS THE SECOND LARGEST
OIL-PRODUCING STATE IN THE
NATION BEHIND ONLY TEXAS.
WE'RE HERE ON AN ACTIVE RIG
AND THE BOCCAN OIL FIELDS OF
WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA.
THERE ARE ABOUT 180O SO OIL
RIGS HERE IN THE STATES.
ONE REASON MANY FAMILIES ARE
COMING HERE TO THE WESTERN
PART OF THE STATE IS BECAUSE
OF ALL OF THE ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES.
IN MANY OIL OPERATIONS,
WORKERS KEEP THEIR FAMILIES
AND HOME IN ANOTHER STATE,
BUT IN THIS CASE MANY
FAMILIES CHOOSE TO LIVE HERE
PERMANENTLY.
CURTIS HANZEL LEFT HIS UTAH
REAL ESTATE JOB AND BROUGHT
HIS FAMILY HERE TWO YEARS
AGO.
I REALIZED THAT THIS WAS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN ON
THE CUSP OF SOMETHING THAT I
THINK WILL BE GOOD FOR US IN
THE LONG WRONG.
David: IT HAS BEEN
GOOD FOR THE HANZEL FAMILY
AND MANY OTHERS.
THE AVERAGE OIL WORKER OUT
HERE MAKES $112,000.
BEGINNERS START AT $66,000.
THE POPULATION INCREASE
MEANS MORE DEMAND.
SO THE LOCAL McDONALD'S
AND WAL-MART ARE HIRING
WORKERS STARTING AT $14 AN
HOUR.
AND MANY TIMES THEY ADD A
HEALTHY SIGNING BONUS JUST
FOR AGREEING TO WORK THERE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE
NUMBER OF NORTH DAKOTA
MILLIONAIRES HAS CLIMBED
RAPIDLY.
LAST YEAR THE STATE RANKED
43rd IN MILLIONAIRE
HOUSEHOLDS.
NOW THEY'RE UP TO 29th ON
THE LIST AND CLIMBING.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LIVE
VERY COMFORTABLY, ENJOY SOME
THINGS, FOR INSTANCE,
VACATIONS AND THOSE KINDS OF
THINGS, AND STILL PUT A GOOD
CHUNK OF MONEY AWAY FOR THE
FUTURE.
David: AND THERE IS
MORE ECONOMIC GOOD NEWS
HERE, A STAGGERING LOW 3%
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.
75,000 JOBS CREATED IN THE
LAST FEW YEARS, AND A STATE
ECONOMY GROWING AT FIVE
TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
ALL OF THIS HAS LED TO SOME
GROWING PAINS, HOWEVER.
DENNIS JOHNSON IS MAYOR OF
DICKINSON, A TOWN WHERE THE
OIL BOOM HAS BEEN A MIXED
BLESSING.
THE MAJORITY OF THE
PEOPLE, PROBABLY SOMEWHERES
AROUND 60% TO 70% ARE
POSITIVELY IMPACTED BY THE
OIL DEVELOPMENT.
BUT THERE IS PROBABLY A
MINORITY OF 30% TO 40% THAT
IT IS A NEGATIVE IMPACT.
David: TAKE HOUSING
FOR EXAMPLE.
THE DEMAND IS SO GREAT THAT
TWO BEDROOM APARTMENTS THAT
USED TO RENT FOR $500,
THEY'RE NOW GOING FOR CLOSE
TO $2500.
IT HAS INCREASED THE
HOUSING COSTS QUITE A BIT.
I FEEL SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO DON'T HAVE THE BIG OIL
JOBS.
David: AND THE
INCREASE IN PEOPLE HAS LED
TO MORE CRIME, ESPECIALLY
AMONG THE YOUNG, SINGLE MEN,
HOPING TO STRIKE IT RICH.
WHEN GIRLS COME OUT HERE
NOW, LIKE I DID WHEN I FIRST
GOT OUT HERE, AND I'M VERY
QUICKLY REASSURING THEM THEY
NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL
BECAUSE THESE GUYS WILL TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF YOU.
David: THERE IS NO
DOUBT THIS BOCCAN OIL FIELD
AREA HAS CHALLENGES, BUT FOR
CURTIS HANZEL AND FAMILIES
LIKE HIS, THE POSITIVES
SURELY OUTWEIGH THE
NEGATIVE.
IF WE DO OUR PART, GOD
WILL TAKE CARE OF US.
WE'VE HAD TO PUT THAT TO THE
TEST A NUMBER OF TIMES.
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT
SOUND LIKE IT IS ROUTINE,
BUT FOR MY WIFE AND I, IT
WAS JUST ANOTHER CHALLENGE.
David: THAT CHALLENGE
IS PROVING FRUITFUL FOR THE
THOUSANDS STRIKING IT RICH
IN THE OIL FIELDS OF NORTH
DAKOTA.
DAVID BRODY, CBN NEWS, IN
WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA.
Gordon: WELL, NORTH
DAKOTA IS HAVING A BOOM.
AND WHETHER YOU'RE IN THE
OIL INDUSTRY OR NOT, I'M
HEARING HOTEL PRICES ARE
GOING THROUGH THE ROOF UP
THERE BECAUSE ALL THESE NEW
WORKERS NEED SOME PLACE TO
LIVE.
SO IT IS AN AMAZING THING
ALL BECAUSE OF NEW
TECHNOLOGY IN OIL
EXTRACTION.
WENDY, YOU GOING TO MOVE TO
NORTH DAKOTA?
Wendy: YUP, I'M PACKING
MY BAGS RIGHT AFTER THE SHOW
TODAY.
THERE'S OIL THERE.
Gordon: THERE IS TV
HERE.
Wendy: TRUE.
I'LL STAY HERE.
UP NEXT, A MOTHER IS TOLD
WHY HER 18-MONTH-OLD SON HAS
BEEN ACTING STRANGELY.
WHEN THEY SAID THE WORD
"AUTISM," I WAS TERRIFIED.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE END.
I THOUGHT WE HAD LOST HIM
FOR GOOD.
Wendy: HEAR HOW HE MADE
A RECOVERY AND STUNNED
DOCTORS ALONG THE WAY.
Gordon: WELL, TOM
THOMAS EDISON WAS DYSLEXIC,
AND THE PARENTS OF ALBERT
EINSTEIN THOUGHT HE WAS A
LITTLE SLOW.
THOSE MEN OVERCAME THEIR
DISABILITIES AND BECAME
GREAT.
ROMAN SCOTT DID THE SAME
THROUGH THE POWER OF
PRAYER.
*
AFTER I PRACTICED THIS
SONG A COUPLE OF TIMES, I'M
ABLE TO PLAY IT.
Reporter: AT JUST 11
YEARS OLD, ROMAN SCOTT IS A
GIFTED PIANIST.
RICARDO MATTHEW, THIS PIANO
TEACHER, AGREES.
THE TALENT THAT ROMAN HAS
IS A GOD-GIVEN TALENT.
Reporter: PERHAPS WHAT
IS EVEN MORE AMAZING, IS
THAT FOR THREE YEARS OF THIS
LIFE, ROMAN STRUGGLED WITH
PERVASIVE
DEVELOPMENTAL
DELAY, A FORM OF AUTISM.
HIS PARENTS, TOM AND
ELIZABETH, REALIZED
SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT WHEN
ROMAN WAS 14 MONTHS OLD.
BESIDES HIS INABILITY TO
TALK, THEY HAD OTHER
CONCERNS.
HE CONSTANTLY CHOKED ON
FOOD.
HE ROLLED HIS HANDS AROUND
IN CIRCLES.
AND HE WAS FIXATED ON
CEILING FANS, FLAGS, AND
LIGHTS.
AND HE STARTED RUNNING LAPS
AROUND OUR FAMILY ROOM.
Reporter: ELIZABETH
TOOK ROMAN TO A PEDIATRICIAN
IN DESOTO, TEXAS.
ROMAN WAS NOW 18 MONTHS
OLD.
ROMAN WAS NOT REALLY
TALKING.
AND HE WAS SENSITIVE ABOUT
BEING TOUCHED.
AND SO INITIALLY I HAD A LOT
OF CONCERNS ABOUT ROMAN'S
ABILITY TO GET BETTER.
WHEN THEY SAID THE WORD
"AUTISM," I WAS TERRIFIED
AND DEVASTATED.
THAT WAS SOMETHING I JUST
DID NOT WANT TO BEAR BECAUSE
I KNEW HOW DIFFICULT THAT
WOULD BE.
MY FIRST REACTION WAS OF
CONCERN, BUT AT THE SAME
TIME, IN THE BACK OF MY
MIND, THERE WAS A CALMING
FEELING THAT SOMEHOW AFTER
TIME ROMAN WOULD OUTGROW
IT.
Reporter: ELIZABETH AND
TOM BEGAN PRAYING DAILY FOR
GOD TO HEAL THEIR SON.
I WAS PRAYING TO GOD AND
ASKING HIM, PLEASE, PLEASE
HELP ME WITH THIS, AND
PLEASE HELP MY SON TO GET
BETTER.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS
BIGGER THAN ME AND BIGGER
THAN MY FAMILY COULD SOLVE,
AND I WAS JUST PRAYERFUL
THAT GOD WOULD HANDLE IT.
Reporter: MEANTIME,
ROMAN NEEDED FULL-TIME
SPEECH AND OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPY.
THE INSURANCE DIDN'T COVER
THE $82,000 A YEAR IT WOULD
COST.
SO ELIZABETH QUIT HER JOB,
AND WITH THE GUID GUIDANCE
OF A THERAPIST, SHE BEGAN
WORKING WITH HER SON.
SHE DEVELOPED 90 ACTIVITIES
TO HELP ROMAN WITH HIS MOTOR
AND SENS SENSEABILITY.
THERE WERE DAYS WHEN I
HAD IT, I DID FEEL LIKE I
WAS GOING TO GIVE UP.
Reporter: WITH EACH
PASSING DAY, ROMAN STARTED
TO OVERCOME HIS CHALLENGES.
ELIZABETH CONTINUED TO PRAY
EVERY DAY.
AFTER TWO AND A HALF YEARS,
ALMOST ALL OF HIS SYMPTOMS
WERE GONE, AND IT SEEMED
THAT ROMAN WOULD BE
SYMPTOM-FREE.
THEN WITHOUT WARNING, HE HAD
THE WORST TANTRUM HE HAD
EVER HAD.
OVER THE NEXT FOUR DAYS, HE
COULDN'T BE CONSOLED.
HE WAS, LIKE, DON'T TOUCH
ME!
DON'T TOUCH ME!
I CAN'T!
DON'T!
AND HE WAS JUST CRYING AND
SCREAMING, AND I THOUGHT
THAT WAS THE END.
I THOUGHT WE HAD LOST HIM
FOR GOOD.
AND I SAID, WHY NOW?
HE WAS ALMOST THERE.
HE WAS ALMOST HEALED.
THAT REALLY BROUGHT ME TO MY
KNEES AND I WAS TERRIFIED.
Reporter: SHE TOTALLY
SURRENDERED EVERYTHING TO
GOD, INCLUDING THE
POSSIBILITY OF HER SON NEVER
GETTING HEALED.
I SAID, LORD, WHATEVER
BE, HELP ME TO LEARN A KNEW
A NEW WAY IF THIS IS THE
LIFE YOU HAVE FOR HIM.
Reporter: ROMAN
EVENTUALLY CALMED DOWN AND
ELIZABETH RESUMED WORKING
WITH HIM.
THEN ON HIS FOURTH BIRTHDAY,
SHE AND HER HUSBAND TOOK HIM
TO THE DOCTOR WHERE THEY
HEARD THE NEWS THAT THEY HAD
BEEN WAITING FOR: ROMAN HAD
NO MORE SIGNS OF AUTISM.
I REMEMBER JUST CRYING IN
THE CAR.
AND I SAID, THIS IS IT?
HE IS FINISHED?
YOU NEED NO MORE THERAPY.
THAT'S SOMETHING ONLY GOD
CAN DO.
ONLY GOD CAN HEAL LIKE
THAT.
Reporter: IT HAS BEEN
EIGHT YEARS SINCE ROMAN WAS
FIRST DIAGNOSED, AND TODAY
HE IS STILL SYSTEM-FREE.
HE HAD 45 DIFFERENT
SYMPTOMS, AND AFTER THREE
YEARS OF INTENSIVE THERAPY,
WITH NO MEDICATION, ROMAN
WAS SYMPTOM-FREE.
LOOKING AT ROMAN TODAY, NO
ONE WOULD DIAGNOSE HIM WITH
AUTISM.
Reporter: ROMAN HAS
EXCELLED IN EVERY AREA
DOCTORS THOUGHT HE WOULD
NEVER EXCEL IN.
IN FACT, HE IS IN THE
TALENTED AND GIFTED PROGRAM
AT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL AND IS
IN THE TOP 5% OF HIS CLASS.
HIS FAVORITE SUBJECT IS
TECHNOLOGY.
IN OUR TECHNOLOGY CLUB,
WE TAKE APART COMPUTERS.
IMMEDIATELY UPON MEETING
HIM, I KNEW HE WAS SOMETHING
SPECIAL.
SO ROMAN IS A STRAIGHT "A"
STUDENT.
HE IS VERY CORDIAL, VERY
FRIENDLY WITH ME AND HIS
CLASSMATES.
Reporter: ELIZABETH AND
TOM BELIEVE THEIR SON'S
HEALING IS A MEDICAL
MIRACLE.
THEY KNOW THE THINGS THAT
PLAYED THE MOST IMPORTANT
PART IN ROMAN'S RECOVERY WAS
PRAYER AND TRUSTING GOD TO
DO THE IMPOSSIBLE.
ELIZABETH HAS WRITTEN A BOOK
AND A COMPANION GUIDE OF
ACTIVITIES SHE TAUGHT HER
SON DURING HIS JOURNEY OF
HEALING.
TODAY WHEN I LOOK AT
ROMAN, HE IS EVERYTHING I
COULD EVER IMAGINE AND
MORE.
HE HAS SURPASSED ALL OF MY
HOPES AND DREAMS.
IT IS REALLY RARE TO HAVE
A CHILD RECOVER FROM AUTISM,
ESPECIALLY AN AUTISM THAT
WAS AS SEVERE AS MINE.
ONLY GOD COULD DO SUCH AN
AWESOME THING.
EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE DON'T
THINK IT IS POSSIBLE, WITH
CHRIST ALL THINGS ARE
POSSIBLE.
I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL AND
SO THANKFUL FOR WHAT HE HAS
DONE.
HE IS AWESOME.
Gordon: WHEN THE ANGEL
ANNOUNCED TO MARY SHE WAS
GOING TO HAVE A CHILD, SHE
SAID, HOW COULD THIS BE?
I'VE NEVER KNOWN A MAN.
AND GABRIEL ASSURED HER,
WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE
POSSIBLE.
SO IN YOUR NEED RIGHT NOW,
START THINKING HOW BIG IS
POSSIBLE?
HOW BIG IS THAT?
HOW BIG IS YOUR GOD?
IS HE BIGGER THAN WHATEVER
YOUR NEED IS?
BECAUSE IF YOU FOCUS IN ON
THAT NEED AND YOU KEEP
WORRYING ABOUT THAT NEED,
YOU'RE NEGLECTING THE SOURCE
OF ALL LIFE, ALL
CREATIVITY.
EVERYTHING WE SEE IN THE
UNIVERSE.
AND SO HOW BIG IS THAT, AND
HOW BIG IS THAT POSSIBLE FOR
YOU.
SO OFTEN THE DOCTORS CAN
GIVE US A VERY NEGATIVE
REPORT, AND WE HEAR THAT
WORD "INCURABLE," AND WE GO,
OH, NO, I'M GOING TO HAVE
THIS FOR THE REST OF MY
LIFE.
WELL, NO.
WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE
POSSIBLE TO THEM THAT
BELIEVE.
SO GET YOUR MIND OFF YOUR
NEED AND LOOK TO JESUS, THE
AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF YOUR
FAITH.
THE ALPHA AND OMEGA.
THROUGH HIM ALL THINGS CAME
INTO BEING.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIM,
YOU GET ALL OF THE FAITH
THAT YOU NEED.
NOW, WENDY AND I ARE GOING
TO PRAY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO PRAY FOR
YOU.
BUT START LOOKING TO HIM.
WHEN YOU HEAR HIS WORD, WHEN
YOU SENSE HIS PRESENCE, WELL
THEN YOU GET INTO THE
POSSIBLE.
EVERYTHING CAN BE POSSIBLE
TO THEM THAT BELIEVE.
BEFORE WE PRAY, WE WANT TO
ENCOURAGE YOU.
HERE ARE SOME OTHER
MIRACLES.
BILLY OF KATIE, TEXAS, WENT
ON A WALKING TORE TOUR, AND
SHE INJURED HER ANKLE, AND
SHE HAD DIFFICULTY WALKING.
THEN SHE DECIDED TO CALL
"THE 700 CLUB" PRAYER
CENTER.
SHE HAD SOMEONE AGREE WITH
HER.
THAT SAME NIGHT SHE WAS
AWAKENED TO A TINGLING
FEELING AND SHE SAID, GOD
HEALED ME.
IN THE MORNING, SHE WAS ABLE
TO RESUME EXERCISE, AND SHE
IS WALKING OVER 10,000 STEPS
EACH DAY.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
Wendy: THAT'S A LOT OF
STEPS.
9-YEAR-OLD VIVIENNE OF
WASHINGTON WAS PLAYING ON A
CHAIR WHEN SHE FELL AND HURT
HER KNEE AND IT SWELLED TO
TWICE ITS SIZE.
AFTER HER MOTHER APPLIED AN
ICE PACK FOR HER KNEE, SHE
TURNED ON A PREVIOUSLY
RECORDED "THE 700 CLUB."
AT THAT POINT YOU SPOKE A
WORD OF KNOWLEDGE SAYING YOU
ARE EXPERIENCING SHARP PAINS
IN YOUR RIGHT KNEE AND GOD
HAS JUST HEALED YOU.
VIVIENNE SAID, COULD THAT BE
FOR ME?
HER MOTHER SAID TO CLAIM
THAT WORD.
AND WHEN SHE STOOD UP, THE
PAIN WAS GONE AND SHE WAS
ABLE TO WALK.
HER MOTHER CHECKED HER RIGHT
KNEE AND FOUND HER SWELLING
WAS COMPLETELY GONE.
I LOVE WHEN GOD USES OUR
PRE-RECORDED SHOWS.
Gordon: THERE IS NO
TIME OR DISTANCE WITH THE
HOLY SPIRIT.
REALIZE THAT, THAT HE CAN
REACH THROUGH TIME, HE CAN
REACH THROUGH ANY SPACE, AND
REACH TO YOU BECAUSE HE IS
RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.
NOW, WE'RE GOING TO AGREE,
AND THE PEOPLE SAYS WHEN TWO
OR MORE AGREE TOUCHING
ANYTHING, IT SHALL BE DONE.
THE BIBLE SAYS WHEN TWO OR
MORE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER
IN MY NAME, THERE I AM IN
THE MIDST OF THEM.
SO IF JESUS IS HERE, THEN
ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.
AND ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS
REACH OUT AND TOUCH HIM.
SO LET'S DO THAT AND LET'S
AGREE.
NOW, IN AN ACT OF FAITH, LAY
YOUR HAND ON THE AREA OF
YOUR BODY THAT NEEDS
HEALING.
IF IT IS THROUGHOUT YOUR
BODY, LAY YOUR HAND ON TOP
OF YOUR HEAD.
IF THERE ARE PEOPLE AROUND
YOU, ASK THEM, WOULD YOU
PRAY FOR ME.
WOULD YOU COME AND LAY HANDS
ON ME?
AND THE PRAYER OF FAITH WILL
RAISE YOU UP.
LET'S PRAY.
LORD, WE LIFT THE NEEDS OF
THE AUDIENCE TO YOU RIGHT
NOW.
AND WE REACH OUT WITH HANDS
OF LOVE AND COMPASSION.
AND WE REACH OUT IN FAITH TO
YOU.
AND WE ASK NOW FOR THEIR
HEALING.
Wendy: YES, LORD.
Gordon: AND WE DECLARE
OVER THEM, BY THE STRIPES OF
JESUS CHRIST YOU ARE
HEALED.
Wendy: THANK YOU, GOD.
Gordon: YOU WERE
HEALED, AND WE BELIEVE IT
NOW.
AND WE RECEIVE IT NOW.
BECAUSE JESUS IS RIGHT HERE
WITH US.
LORD, DO MIRACLES.
AND, LORD, ESPECIALLY FOR
PARENTS WHO ARE CRYING OUT
FOR THEIR CHILDREN, FOR
GRANDPARENTS WHO ARE CRYING
OUT FOR THEIR GRANDCHILDREN,
STRETCH FORTH YOUR HAND TO
DO WONDERS, SIGNS, AND
MIRACLES, FOR WE ASK IT IN
JESUS' NAME.
THERE IS SOMEONE, YOU'RE
PRAYING FOR A CHILD WITH
EPILEPSY, AND
GOD HAS HEARD
YOUR CRY.
AND HE IS HEALING NOW.
Wendy: THERE ARE PEOPLE
WITH A CHRONIC URINARY TRACT
INFECTIONS, AND YOU'VE BEEN
GOING TO DOCTORS, TRYING TO
GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.
THE LORD IS TOUCHING YOU
NOW
AND YOU ARE BEING MADE WHOLE
IN THAT
AREA.
Gordon: FOR THE ONE
PRAYING FOR THE EPILEPTIC,
THERE IS A FEAR OF
RECURRENCE.
GOD JUST
WANTS THAT
FEAR TO
GO AWAY
RIGHT
NOW.
PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT ALL
FEAR.
SO WE
JUST BIND THAT FEAR
NOW IN JESUS'
NAME.
AND NO MORE EXPECTATION OF
ANOTHER
SEIZURE, BUT
EXPECTATION OF
LIFE AND JOY
AND HEALTH IN
THE HOLY
SPIRIT.
BE GONE NOW IN JESUS' NAME.
THERE IS SOMEONE, YOU'VE GOT
SEVERE PAIN IN
YOUR LEFT
KIDNEY, AND
GOD HAS JUST
HEALED THAT
AND
RELEASED YOU
FROM THAT.
BEGIN TO REJOICE FOR WHAT HE
IS DOING FOR
YOU.
SOMEONE ELSE
WITH LOWER BACK
PAIN
CAUSED BY
STRAIN, AND
GOD'S
HEALING YOU AND JUST
RELEASING ALL OF
THOSE
MUSCLES.
JUST RELAX INTO
THAT HEALING
RIGHT NOW.
IN JESUS' NAME.
Wendy: THERE ARE
COUPLES, AND YOU'VE BEEN
CRYING OUT FOR A BABY, AND
YOU'RE HAVING INFERTILITY
PROBLEMS.
THE LADIES, PUT YOUR HANDS
ON YOUR BELLIES, AND GOD IS
HEALING THAT RIGHT
NOW.
Gordon:
LORD,
WE THANK
YOU, FOR YOU
ARE
THE
HEALER.
YOU
ARE THE RESTORER.
YOU CAME TO TAKE ALL OF OUR
SIN, ALL OF
OUR DISEASE, AND
RESTORE US INTO RIGHT
RELATIONSHIP WITH
YOU.
NOW MAY
YOUR PEACE BE ON US
AND BE
IN US, FOR WE ASK IT
IN JESUS' NAME.
AMEN.
Wendy: AMEN.
Gordon: IF YOU'VE BEEN
HEALED, WE WANT TO SHARE IN
YOUR GOOD REPORT.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL
US.
1-800-759-0700.
AND IF YOU NEED HEALING,
WE'RE HERE FOR YOU 24 HOURS
A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL
US.
1-800-759-0700.
WENDY?
Wendy: STILL AHEAD,
WE'RE LIVE WITH EVANGELIST
DUCK SHEET.
AND STILL AHEAD, HOW THE
PRAYERS OF ONE GIRL SAVED
HER AND THE REST OF HER
FAMILY AS WELL.
AND WELCOME BACK TO "THE
700 CLUB."
LAWMAKERS IN SOUTH DAKOTA
HAVE REJECTED A MEASURE THAT
WOULD HAVE PROTECTED CLERGY
AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS WHO
OPPOSE GAY MARRIAGE.
OPPONENTS SAY THE STATE
CONSTITUTION PREVENTS
PASTORS WHO DON'T WANT TO
PERFORM SAME-SEX WEDDINGS.
SO THE SENATE JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE KILLED THE BILL.
"OPERATION BLESSING" TEAMS
ARE STILL WORKING IN THE
PHILIPPINES TO HELP VICTIMS
OF TYPHOON HAIYAN.
THANKS TO A PARTNERSHIP,
TEAMS ARE PROVIDING
FISHERMEN WITH INTO BOATS
AND CONDUCTING MEDICAL AND
DENTAL CLINICS FOR
CHILDREN.
THEY'RE ALSO WORKING ON A
HOUSE-BUILDING PROJECT AND
PROVIDING SAFE DRINKING
WATER.
IN THE FUTURE, "OPERATION
BLESSING" PLANS TO REBUILD A
COMMUNITY SCHOOL SO THAT THE
CHILDREN CAN CONTINUE THEIR
EDUCATION.
REMEMBER, YOU CAN FIND OUT
MORE ABOUT "OPERATION
BLESSING" BY GOING TO ITS
WEBSITE, OB.ORG.
GORDON AND WENDY ARE COMING
BACK WITH MORE OF "THE 700
CLUB" RIGHT AFTER THIS.
*
Gordon: WHEN THE FATHER
IN OUR NEXT STORY GOT HURT,
HE LOST HIS ABILITY TO WORK
AND SUPPORT HIS FAMILY.
SO HIS DAUGHTER PRAYED FOR A
MIRACLE, AND HERE IS HOW
THEY GOT ONE.
Reporter: BELLA LIVES
NEAR THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF
INDIA.
HE PROVIDED FOR HIS WIFE AND
TWO CHILDREN BY WEAVING
FENCES, USED IN BUSINESSES
AND STREAMS.
BUT HIS BUSINESS CAME TO AN
ABRUPT END WHEN A MOTORCYCLE
HIT HIM.
I HAD TO STAND FOR LONG
PERIODS OF TIME TO DO MY
JOB.
BUT IT HURT TOO MUCH AFTER
THE ACCIDENT.
I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON
MERCHANDISE, AND I
EVENTUALLY RECOVERED.
BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY
LEFT TO BUY THE STICKS AND
ROPES NEEDED TO MAKE THE
FENCES.
I FELT HELPLESS.
Reporter: HIS WIFE
BEGAN WORKING IN THE FIELDS,
BUT SHE ONLY EARNED $1 A
DAY.
HIS DAUGHTER ALSO PITCHED IN
BY CARRYING BRICKS AND SAND
AT CONSTRUCTION SITES.
BUT THEY WERE STILL BARELY
GETTING BY.
I HAD TO STOP GOING TO
SCHOOL.
I HAD TO DO IT SO WE COULD
EAT.
Reporter: EVERYONE IN
HIS FAMILY IS HINDU, EXCEPT
HIS DAUGHTER.
SHE BECAME A CHRISTIAN AFTER
MISSIONARIES AND A LOCAL
PASTOR TOLD HER ABOUT
JESUS.
WHENEVER I THINK THAT, I
PRAY TO JESUS TO SOLVE OUR
PROBLEMS.
SO I PRAYED
FOR MY DAD'S
JOB.
Reporter: HER PASTOR
TOLD CBN ABOUT THEIR
SITUATION.
SOON CBN TOOK SUPPLIES TO
HIM SO HE COULD RESTART HIS
BUSINESS.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT
WHEN YOU GAVE US THESE
GIFTS.
IT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE
NEEDED.
Reporter: A FEW WEEKS
LATER WE VISITED THE FAMILY
TO SEE HOW THEY WERE DOING.
YOU GAVE US OUR LIFE
BACK.
YOU NOT ONLY MADE IT
POSSIBLE FOR US TO HAVE
THREE HOT MEALS A DAY, BUT
YOU ALSO GAVE US PEACE.
NOW I CAN PAY FOR MY
CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
Reporter: AFTER FINDING
OUT THAT IT WAS AN ANSWER TO
HIS DAUGHTER'S PRAYER, HE
DECIDED TO TAKE HIS WIFE AND
SON TO HER CHURCH.
WE ARE TRULY BLESSED TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT JESUS
CHRIST.
EVERYONE IS SHOWING US SO
MUCH LOVE.
EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED.
I'M NOW GOING BACK TO
SCHOOL.
I PRAYED FOR JESUS
GOODNESS.
I WILL ALSO BE GRATEFUL
TO YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Gordon: AND THANK YOU.
IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF "THE
700 CLUB," YOU'RE PART OF
BLESSING THAT FAMILY.
A PORTION OF EVERY GIFT GOES
INTO THE WORK OF CBN
INTERNATIONAL TO HELP PEOPLE
AROUND THE WORLD.
IF YOU'RE NOT A MEMBER, JOIN
WITH US NOW.
THE NUMBER IS TOLL-FREE,
1-800-759-0700.
WHEN YOU JOIN, WE'VE GOT
SOMETHING NEW FOR YOU,
"VISIONS OF THE NIGHT," HOW
GOD SPEAKS IN VISIONS AND
DREAMS.
AND IF YOU JOIN AT "THE 700
CLUB" GOLD, WE'LL NOT JUST
SEND YOU ONE, BUT WE'LL SEND
YOU THREE COPIES.
IF YOU JOIN AT THE THOUSAND
CLUB LEVEL, WE'LL SEND YOU
FIVE COPIES.
DO IT NOW, 1-800-759-0700.
WENDY?
Wendy: STILL AHEAD,
TODAY HE IS A PASTOR AND AN
EVANGELIST, BUT 40 YEARS
AGO, HE WAS A COLLEGE KID
RUNNING AWAY FROM GOD.
DOUG SHEET TELLS US ABOUT
HIS RETURN TO FAITH, NEXT.
Wendy: IN 1973, DUTCH
SHEETS WAS TRAVELLING FAST
BUT GOING NOWHERE.
HE WAS TRYING TO RUN FROM
GOD.
BUT AS IT TURNS OUT, GOD
STILL FOUND HIM.
JOINING US NOW FOR MORE OF
THAT STORY IS DOUG SHEETS,
HE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF "CHRIST FOR THE NATION'S
INSTITUTE," AND THE AUTHOR
OF THE NEW BOOK, "THE
PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY."
WELCOME BACK TO "THE 700
CLUB."
IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU, WENDY.
Wendy: WE GO WAY BACK.
WE DO.
WE'VE HAD SOME PRAYER
ADVENTURES TOGETHER.
Wendy: YOU'RE NEW BOOK
SOUNDS AMAZING.
YOU GREW UP THE SON OF A
PASTOR, AND FOR SOME REASON
I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT.
BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED IN
YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU WERE JUST
17, THAT SHOOK YOUR WORLD.
WHAT HAPPENED?
MY DAD ENDED UP GETTING
INVOLVED WITH HIS SECRETARY
AND ULTIMATELY DIVORCED MOM
AND MARRIED HER.
AND I ALWAYS SAY THAT GOD
HEALED THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
AND I HAVE A GOOD
RELATIONSHIP WITH MY DAD IN
THESE LATTER YEARS, AND EVEN
WITH MY STEPMOM.
BUT AT THE TIME, IT
SHATTERED EVERYTHING.
HE WAS MY CONCEPT.
THIS IS WHAT GOD IS LIKE.
Wendy: HE'S A
PASTOR --
YEAH.
AND A GREAT PREACHER, AND
VERY COMMITTED FOR MOST OF
THOSE YEARS.
AND I SAW GOD DO INCREDIBLE
MIRACLES THROUGH HIS
MINISTRY.
SO HE WAS ON A PRETTY HIGH
PEDESTAL.
I LITERALLY SAW BLIND EYES
OPENED, AND I SAW A LITTLE
BOY TAKE BRACES OFF AND RUN
FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND
CANCERS HEALED.
SO DAD WAS UP THERE ON THIS
PEDESTAL, AND WHEN HE FELL,
IT WAS DEVASTATING TO ME.
Wendy: HOW BAD DID IT
GET, AS FAR AS THE
BITTERNESS YOU STARTED TO
FEEL AT THAT POINT?
I WAS AN ANGRY YOUNG
MAN.
WHEN I SAW MY MOTHER JUST
DEVASTATED AND DESTITUTE.
SHE ALWAYS WORKED JUST AS
HOME, SUPPORTING HIM, AND
SHE WAS THINKING, HOW DO I
PAY BILLS.
AND ONE NIGHT SHE THREW
HERSELF IN MY ARMS WEEPING
AND SAID I DON'T REALLY WANT
TO LIVE.
Wendy: TWO YEARS LATER,
DUTCH, YOU WERE IN A BAR,
AND YOU HAD A FEW BEERS --
I HAD SOME JOINTS.
I WAS HIGH.
AND I DID INHALE.
Wendy: THE BAR WAS
CALLED THE BOAR'S HEAD, AND
YOU HEARD A VOICE IN YOUR
HEAD.
AND WHAT DID THAT VOICE SAY
TO YOU?
AND HE SAID TO ME, WHAT
ARE YOU DOING HERE?
I HAD RUN SO HARD FOR TWO
YEARS, AND I WAS SO
REBELLIOUS AND SO ANGRY,
ANGRY.
I USED TO LOVE TO GET IN THE
PRESENCE OF CHRISTIANS AND
JUST SWEAR AND CURSE.
I WAS SO BITTER AT GOD AND
ANYTHING THAT HAD TO DO WITH
CHURCH.
AND I STOOD THERE HIGH AS A
KITE, JUST LISTENING TO
MUSIC, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I
HEARD THE LORD SAY, WHAT ARE
YOU DOING HERE?
THIS IS NOT WHO YOU ARE.
Wendy: WOW!
AND MY FIRST RESPONSE TO
THE LORD WAS -- BECAUSE I
KNEW IT WAS GOD.
I KNEW HE WAS TALKING TO
ME.
AND I LOOKED AROUND AND I
SAID, WHAT ARE YOU DOING
HERE?
Wendy: WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE?
[LAUGHTER]
AND I WAS INSTANTLY
SOBER.
I WALKED OUTSIDE AND INJURE
BEGAN TO DIALOGUE.
IT WAS REALLY THE FIRST TIME
THAT I HAD COME TO A POINT
WHERE MY HEART WAS SOFTENING
AND GOD COULD REALLY GET
PAST THAT SHELL OF ANGER AND
BITTERNESS AND BEGIN TO TALK
TO ME.
AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS
IS NOT WHO YOU ARE, AND THIS
WILL NEVER BE WHO YOU ARE.
AND I KNEW IT WAS TRUE.
I KNEW INSTANTLY THAT THERE
IS A PART OF ME I THOUGHT
WAS DEAD THAT ISN'T.
Wendy: IT WAS PROBABLY
A RELIEF AT THAT POINT.
IT WAS A RELIEF, BUT IT
WAS CONFUSING.
HOW COULD HE CHASE ME INTO A
PLAYS LIKE THIS.
Wendy: THAT'S HOW GOOD
HE IS.
HE GOES AFTER THAT ONE.
I WASN'T AFRAID OF HELL.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD
HAVE BROUGHT ME BACK INTO
CHURCH OR A CHRISTIAN WALK
WITH FEAR, BUT THE FACT THAT
HE WOULD CHASE ME INTO THAT
PLACE, AND THAT HE WASN'T
ANGRY WITH ME, JUST MESSED
WITH ME.
IT STARTED ME ON A TWO-MONTH
JOURNEY.
I HAD A LOT OF TALKS WITH
THE LORD.
AND I WOULD LAY IN BED AND
THINK.
AND A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU
DON'T KNOW PEOPLE ARE
THINKING ABOUT GOD, THEY
ARE.
I WOULD STILL GO OUT WITH MY
FRIENDS AND PARTY, BUT THEY
WOULDN'T KNOW I WOULD GO
BACK TO MY ROOM.
AND WHEN THEY WERE ALL GONE,
I WAS THINKING.
THAT STARTED ME ON A
JOURNEY.
TWO MONTHS LATER I
RECONNECTED WITH GOD, AND
I'VE BEEN RUNNING HARD AFTER
GOD EVER SINCE.
Wendy: YOU ABSOLUTELY
HAVE.
WE'RE GOING TO FAST FORWARD
TO YOUR LATEST, AMAZING
BOOK, "THE PLEASURE OF HIS
COMPANY."
TELL US ABOUT THIS, WHY DOES
GOD WANT TO HANG OUT WITH
US, DUTCH?
BECAUSE HE IS SUCH A
RELATIONAL GOD.
WE GET RELIGIOUS, AND WE
PURSUE RELIGION.
WE THINK HE IS RELIGION, AND
HE IS NOT.
HE WAS COMFORTABLE WITH A
PROSTITUTE MAKING HER WAY
INTO HIS HOUSE AND BATHING
HIS FEET WITH HER TEARS.
I WOULD JUST BE APPALLED.
AND HE JUST ACCEPTED IT.
WHEN I STARTED, I REMEMBER
THINKING FOR THE FIRST 17
YEARS OF MY LIFE I KNEW
GOD.
I WAS SAVED.
I WENT TO CHURCH EVERY
WEEK.
AND I REALIZED WHEN I CAME
BACK TO HIM AND REALLY
CONNECTED AT A HEART LEVEL,
I HAD THIS AWFUL REALIZATION
I HAVE NEVER HAD A
CONNECTION.
I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A PLACE
WHERE I JUST CONNECTED WITH
GOD IN AN INTIMATE WAY.
AND THAT MESSED WITH ME
BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN I
REALIZED IT'S AVAILABLE.
Wendy: DO YOU THINK
MOST PEOPLE, WE WANT TO KNOW
GOD?
AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A
MOVEMENT RIGHT NOW, I KNOW
EVEN AT MY CHURCH IN
VIRGINIA BEACH, THE PASTOR
IS DOING A SERMON ON KNOWING
GOD.
WE'RE SO BUSY AND WE MAKE SO
MANY EXCUSES.
HOW DO WE MAKE THE TIME TO
KNOW HIM AND ENJOY THE
PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY?
I THINK IT STARTS WITH
SEVERAL THINGS.
IT STARTS BY KNOWING THERE
IS SOMETHING MORE THAN A
RELIGIOUS DUTY TO HAVE
DEVOTIONS OR QUIET TIME.
WHEN I REALIZED, WAIT A
MINUTE, IF I GET QUIET AND
REALLY LEARN TO LISTEN, HE
WILL SPEAK TO ME.
Wendy: AND YOU SAY IN
YOUR BOOK, HE IS REALLY THE
MOST INTERESTING PERSON IN
THE WORLD TO HANG OUT WITH.
ABSOLUTELY.
Wendy: THERE IS NO ONE
LIKE HIM?
COME ON, WE'RE TALKING
CREATOR HERE.
WE'RE TALKING GOD.
WHEN HE STARTS BRINGING YOU
INTO HIS WORLD, YOU REALIZE
I CAN HAVE A FRIENDSHIP, AND
I MEAN THAT LITERALLY.
I CAN HAVE A FRIENDSHIP WITH
GOD, HEAR HIS VOICE.
HE WILL TALK WITH ME.
HE WILL SHARE WITH ME HIS
HEART, WHAT HE'S THINKING.
IT JUST CHANGES EVERYTHING.
Wendy: DUTCH, YOU HAVE
BEEN A PRAYER WARRIOR.
AND YOU SAY WE ARE GETTING
READY AS A NATION TO GO INTO
THE THIRD GREAT AWAKENING
WITH SIGNS OF WONDERS.
YOU SAY WE'RE ALREADY SEEING
THOSE EVEN IN AMERICA.
IS THAT TRUE?
IT IS TRUE.
I'VE SEEN MORE MIRACLES IN
THE LAST YEAR THAN I HAVE
SEEN MAYBE IN THE LAST 20.
I'VE SEEN AUTISM HEALED.
I'VE SEEN CANCER HEALED.
ONE FRIEND OF MINE PRAYED
FOR A LADY WITH CANCER.
SHE WAS SO EATEN UP WITH
CANCER, AND THEY GAVE HER NO
HOPE.
THE GUY SHE WORKED FOR WAS A
MUSLIM.
HE GOT SAVED.
HE WAS A DOCTOR.
HE SAID, OKAY, I'VE SEEN THE
REPORTS.
I KNOW THERE WAS NO HOPE.
I HAVE SEEN THE NEW REPORTS,
THERE IS NO CANCER IN YOU.
MY GOD HAS NEVER HEALED
ANYBODY.
SO HE SAID, I WANT JESUS.
AND THEN HE OWNED AN
ABORTION CLINIC, AND HE SHUT
THE ABORTION CLINIC DOWN
BECAUSE JESUS CAME INTO HIS
HEART.
I'M SEEING THESE THINGS
REGULARLY.
I'VE SEEN TUMORS DISAPPEAR.
I'VE SEEN PEOPLE HEALED OF
BLOOD DISEASE AND
S.T.D.s.
BUT I'VE SEEN MORE IN THE
LAST, PROBABLY YEAR, THAN
I'VE SEEN IN THE LAST 20.
AND I'M HEARING OTHER
BROTHERS AND SISTERS SAY THE
SAME THING.
MEN AND WOMEN SAYING I'M
SEEING MORE MIRACLES NOW
THAN IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.
WE'RE MOVING INTO THIS
AWAKENING.
Wendy: THIS IS VERY
GOOD NEWS, ESPECIALLY
STARTING A NEW YEAR AND JUST
WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW.
IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU
AGAIN.
DUTCH, THANKS FOR BEING WITH
US.
THE BOOK IS CALLED "THE
PLEASURE OF HIS COMPANY."
AND IT'S AVAILABLE IN STORES
NATIONWIDE.
COMING UP, WE'RE GOING TO
"BRING IT ON" WITH YOUR
QUESTIONS, SO DON'T GO
AWAY.
*
Wendy: AND WE'RE BACK,
AND IT IS TIME FOR YOUR
E-MAIL QUESTIONS.
"BRING IT ON," AND GORDON IS
HERE TO ANSWER SOME PRETTY
TOUGH QUESTIONS.
SOMEONE WRITES, "HOW COME IN
THE BIBLE, JESUS NEVER
REFERS TO HIMSELF AS THE SON
OF GOD?"
Gordon: WELL, AN
ANONYMOUS, HE DOES.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THESE
WEIRD RUMORS GETS
CIRCULATED.
IT IS INTERESTING HOW YOU
PHRASE THE QUESTION, AND IT
ASSUMES THE TRUTH AND IT IS
NOT TRUE.
HERE IT IS AT JOHN 4, THE
WOMAN SAID TO HIM: "I KNOW
THAT THE MESSIAH IS COMING,
WHO IS CALLED CHRIST.
WHEN HE COMES HE WILL TELL
US ALL THINGS.
JESUS SAID TO HER, I, WHO
SPEAK TO YOU, AM HE."
IN THE SAME GOSPEL, 10th
CHAPTER: "THEN THE JEWS
SURROUNDED HIM AND SAID TO
HIM, HOW LONG DO YOU KEEP US
IN DOUBT?
IF YOU ARE THE CHRIST, TELL
US PLAINLY."
JESUS ANSWERED THEM, "I TOLD
YOU AND YOU DO NOT BELIEVE.
THE WORKS THAT I DO IN MY
FATHER'S NAME, THEY BEAR
WITNESS OF ME."
SAME CHAPTER, THE JEWS
ANSWERED HIM: "FOR A GOOD
WORK WE DO NOT STONE YOU,
BUT FOR BLASPHEMY, BECAUSE
YOU, BEING A MAN, MAKE
YOURSELF GOD."
JESUS ANSWERED THEM, "IS IT
NOT WRITTEN IN YOUR LAW I
SAID YOU ARE GOD.
IF HE CALLED THEM GODS TO
WHOM THE WORD CANNOT BE
BROKEN.
DO YOU SAY OF HIM, WHOM THE
FATHER SANCTIFIED AND SENT
INTO WORLD YOU ARE
BLASPHEMYING BECAUSE I SAID
I AM THE SON OF GOT."
MARK 14: "THE HIGH PRIEST
ASKED OF HIM, ARE YOU THE
CHRIST, THE SON OF THE
BLESSED?"
JESUS SAID, "I AM."
SO FOR ALL OF YOU WHO SAID
JESUS NEVER SAID HE WAS THE
SON OF GOD, THAT'S EXACTLY
THE REASON HE WAS CRUCIFIED,
WHEN HE WENT TO THE HIGH
PRIEST AND SAID I AM.
THAT WAS THE SIN THAT GOT
HIM CRUCIFIED.
SO THERE IS YOUR ANSWER.
Wendy: EXTENT.
FRAN RIGHTS, "I WENT TO HEAR
A FAIRLY WELL-KNOWN TV
PASTOR.
MY MOTHER AND I WEP WENT UP
FOR PRAYER, AND HE PRAYED
FOR MY MOTHER, AND HE SAID
HE COULDN'T PRAY FOR ME AND
SAID I KNEW WHY.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHY & I STILL
DON'T KNOW WHY.
DID JESUS EVER REFUSE TO
PRAYER FOR SOMEONE?
WAS THIS MINISTER BIBLICAL
IN HIS ACTIONS?"
Gordon: FRAN, WALK IN
LOVE AND FORGIVENESS.
IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD HAVE
ASKED HIM RIGHT THEN, WHAT
DO YOU MEAN?
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WON'T
PRAY FOR ME.
DOES THE BIBLE SAY PRAY FOR
ALL MEN?
YES.
IT WAS THE A ADMONITION OF
THE APOSTLE PAUL.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO PRAY FOR
ALL MEN, IN ALL
CIRCUMSTANCES, REGARDLESS IF
THEIR BELIEVERS OR
UNBELIEVERS OR IF THEY'RE IN
SIN OR NOT IN SIN.
THAT'S THE BIBLICAL
COMMANDMENT.
Wendy: AMY WRITES, "MY
HUSBAND WAS BORN IN A MUSLIM
FAMILY BUT BECAME A BELIEVER
ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THE
BUSINESS OF CHANGING THE
NAME OF GOD TO ALLAH FOR
PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
YOU HAVE SEVERAL STORIES OF
MUSLIM CONVERTS IN THE
MIDDLE EAST.
I CAN'T TELL WHAT THEY ARE
SAYING, BUT I'M WONDERING
WHAT THEY CALL GOD."
Gordon: AMY, THE VERY
FIRST TRANSLATION THAT WE
HAVE THAT CAME OUT OF A
MONASTERY IN SINAI, ST.
CATHARINES MONASTERY.
IT IS TRANSLATED INTO ARABIC
AND IT USES THE WORD "ALLAH"
AS GOD.
YOU CAN GET INTO CONTROVERSY
BECAUSE THAT WORD HAS SOME
VERY DEFINITE CONNOTATIONS
THESE DAYS.
SO THERE -- IT SEEMS TO
CONTINUALLY SWIRL.
REGARDLESS OF CULTURE, THERE
HAS BEEN A HUGE FIGHT ABOUT
THE NAME OF GOD IN CHINESE.
AND PEOPLE FELL OUT OF FAVOR
AND WERE DISFELLOWSHIPPED
BECAUSE OF THE USE OF
DIFFERENT CHINESE WORDS FOR
THE NAME OF GOD.
REALIZE THIS, THE GERMAN
GOD, FROM WHERE WE GET THE
ENGLISH GOD, DOESN'T APPEAR
IN EITHER THE OLD OR NEW
TESTAMENT, AND YET WE USE IT
AND ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS THE
RIGHT TRANSLATION.
WE LEAVE YOU WITH THESE
WORDS FROM 1 CORINTHIANS:
"LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS,
BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES
ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL
THINGS."
GOD BLESS YOU.